Would you pay $17 for a smoothie? Most individuals wouldn’t! However that’s simply what hundreds of individuals did just lately to strive TikTok’s hottest smoothie, a recipe that, through the hashtag #bluesmoothie, has racked up 17.5 million views and counting.
Erewhon is the upscale grocery retailer in Los Angeles that’s promoting the drink, which is named “Marianna’s Coconut Cloud Smoothie.” Created with influencer Marianna Hewitt, it options her model of almond milk as a principal ingredient — however that’s not what made this social media’s most well-known smoothie. This stunningly stunning bright-blue smoothie will get its hue naturally from blue spirulina, a kind of algae.
The concept of consuming algae might sound odd, however past research suggests it might have anti-inflammatory results within the physique and reduce the danger of creating power situations comparable to coronary heart illness. To not point out, spirulina is tasteless.
Whereas the fascinating coloration of the aforementioned viral smoothie might draw you in, it’s possible you’ll discover the feel is what hooks you. These individuals who have tried the drink describe its mouthfeel as gentle and fluffy. No marvel “cloud” options in its title.
However this smoothie isn’t excellent — except for its hefty price ticket, its dietary profile isn’t precisely sterling.
Though diet data for the Coconut Cloud Smoothie isn’t available on-line, that it incorporates coconut cream means it’s excessive in saturated fat, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The American Heart Association suggests limiting consumption to not more than 6 % of your every day energy — or about 13 grams (g) in case you’re consuming 2,000 energy per day.
The unique recipe additionally requires collagen powder, which is a part of what makes the unique model so dear. (A quick search on Amazon yields outcomes for collagen powders that vary from roughly $12 to $50 per container.) Collagen is a protein and the primary part of connective tissues and the pores and skin, in keeping with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Whereas it’d stand to purpose that consuming collagen would enhance the collagen in your physique (thereby making pores and skin look extra radiant), the article goes on to level out that there’s not sufficient proof to help that concept. Certainly, the creator states that collagen can’t be absorbed entire by the human physique, so it must be damaged down throughout digestion. These “collagen items” are then absorbed by the physique and can be utilized for no matter function the physique deems most crucial — not essentially to make collagen in any respect.
Moderately than consuming collagen immediately, ramping up your consumption of vitamins that help collagen manufacturing within the physique — extra particularly vitamin C and zinc — may be useful, per Harvard. The pineapple within the authentic recipe is a superb supply of vitamin C, with 78.9 mg per 1-cup serving, notes the USDA.
Even with that dietary professional of the unique beverage, there’s a wiser method to benefit from the fashionable meals.
A More healthy (and Cheaper) Blue Smoothie
On this twist on the viral blue smoothie, there’s a small quantity of sunshine coconut milk to interchange the coconut cream and considerably decrease the quantity of saturated fats. Additionally integrated is mango for an additional enhance of the collagen-supporting vitamin, bringing the overall quantity on this smoothie to greater than you want in a day, in keeping with the National Institutes of Health. You’ll discover zinc within the almond butter, too, per the USDA.
One other plus of this model: It’s about $5 per serving, after you pay the upfront prices of stocking your kitchen with these elements.
Right here’s easy methods to whip it up:
Elements
- ¼ cup gentle coconut milk
- ½ cup unsweetened soy milk (plus extra as wanted)
- ½ massive ripe banana, frozen
- 1 cup frozen pineapple chunks
- ½ cup frozen mango chunks
- ½ ripe avocado
- 1 g blue spirulina (algae powder), plus a dusting for the glass
- 1 tbsp unsweetened almond butter
- 1 tbsp chia seeds (optionally available)
Instructions
- Place the entire elements right into a blender and mix on excessive till utterly easy, about 1 minute. Add extra soy milk as wanted to regulate the thickness of the smoothie.
- For those who want to create the ombre impact, place a small quantity of the blue spirulina on the underside of the glass earlier than pouring the smoothie in.
Diet per serving: 470 energy, 26g whole fats (6.4g saturated fats), 11g protein, 57g carbohydrates, 11.2g fiber, 20.7g sugar (0g added sugar), 106mg sodium
